Sunday, 10 June 2012

Putin´s timepieces: "watches of a kleptocrat"

Russia´s ruler, former second rate KGB spy Vladimir Putin is officially a man of rather modest means. He owns a small flat in St. Petersburg, a couple of old Volgas, a 2009 Lada and and a 1987 car trailer inherited from his father. Putin´s salary last year was a rather paltry $112,000. Still he has been able to acquire an impressive collection of the world´s most expensive watches:

President Vladimir Putin declared income of 3.6 million rubles ($112,000) last year, but his watch collection alone may be worth six times that.

Putin, who wears the timepieces on his right wrist, has been photographed sporting a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar, valued at $60,000.

The president has also been seen wearing a Leman Aqua Lung Grande Date by Blancpain, worth $10,500.

Made of crocodile leather, sapphire glass and platinum, an A. Lange & Söhne Tourbograph may be his most expensive timepiece, valued at half a million dollars.

Shots of the president sporting expensive watches appear in a recent video by the Solidarity opposition group that is circulating the Internet.

There are different estimates about Putin´s real net worth. The analyst Stanislav Belkovskyhas stated that Putin could be worth about$70 billion. Judging by his watch collection, this estimate might not be very far from to the truth.

1 comment:

Vladimir Putin net worth: Vladimir Putin is a Russian politician who was born in the Soviet Union and has a net worth of $70 billion dollars. The current Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin also served as the President of the Russian Federation from December 1999 until May 2008. http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-politicians/presidents/vladimir-putin-net-worth/